A clever moment from Star Trek: Voyager, particularly in its first season, gains comedic depth upon rewatching. In season 1, episode 5 titled “Phage,”Neelix (played by Ethan Phillips) finds himself in a precarious situation when his lungs are taken by the Vidiians. To keep him alive, the Doctor (portrayed by Robert Picardo) utilizes holographic lungs, but this life-saving procedure confines Neelix to a biobed in the sickbay of the USS Voyager. This predicament is challenging for Neelix, who clings to optimism by requesting small comforts from the Doctor.
At this early stage of the series, the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) often reminds those around him that he was meant to be a supplementary resource for regular medical staff. Handling the everyday and extraordinary medical issues of an entire starship crew is far beyond his default programming. Neelix’s request to add more color to the sickbay is so outside the realm of the Doctor’s capabilities that he responds with the classic retort, “I’m a doctor, not a decorator.” The comedic moment deepens when Neelix humorously inquires, “Better yet, are you programmed to sing?”
Neelix’s Humorous Request About the Doctor Singing Becomes Funnier on Rewatch
Neelix Can’t Actually Predict the Future. .. Right?
Neelix’s humorous jab about the Doctor’s ability to sing takes on added irony upon rewatching due to the knowledge that later in the series, the EMH actually reprograms himself to include singing capabilities. If asked about Neelix’s request in a future episode, the Doctor—now with a developed appreciation for music—would likely respond with enthusiasm rather than the disdainful glare we witness in “Phage.”This ironic twist, while unintended during the episode’s writing, truly enhances the humor and provokes unexpected laughter.
Originally, Neelix’s lighthearted request was amusing primarily because it underscored the absurdity of the demand. Unraveling the advanced functioning of Star Trek’s holograms was beyond Neelix’s understanding. At this juncture, the Doctor adhered strictly to his limited programming, making such questions about redecorating sickbay or belting an aria impossible for him. Back then, viewers had no inkling of how the USS Voyager’s EMH would evolve and adapt as the series progressed—least of all the EMH himself.
The Doctor’s Transformation into a Singer on Star Trek: Voyager
Kes Encourages the Doctor to Expand His Programming and Learn
From season 3, episode 4, titled “The Swarm,”singing becomes an essential aspect of the Doctor’s character development. By season 6, he fantasizes about performing in the mess hall in “Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy”and seriously contemplates a full-time vocal career after enchanting alien species with music in the episode “Virtuoso.”Throughout the series, the EMH forges connections with others through music, singing alongside Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in “Someone to Watch Over Me”and engaging with Fantome (Jonathan Del Arco) in “The Void.”
Remarkably, the inspiration for the Doctor’s passion for singing originated from Robert Picardo himself, who performed nearly all of the EMH’s musical numbers, with the exception of the challenging final aria in season 6’s “Virtuoso,”which was dubbed by tenor Agostino Castagnola.
Fascinatingly, the seeds of the Doctor’s musical enthusiasm were sown in the same episode where Neelix first requests a song. In “Phage,”Kes (played by Jennifer Lien) encourages the Doctor to enhance his bedside manner through gaining more experience and adapting his behavior in response to different situations. This seemingly straightforward suggestion has profound implications for the Doctor’s evolution, leading him to explore new personality facets, familial relations, romantic interests, and, of course, various hobbies. If only the Doctor could foresee the rich tapestry of experiences that Star Trek: Voyager had in store for him, even his irritable earlier self might find humor in Neelix’s playful request to sing.